Northwest Farm and Ranch - Winter 2014

Farm and Ranch Ranchers feel the stress

Fire and drought have reduced usable acreage — Page 5

WINTER 2014

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2 | Wednesday, December 31, 2014 |

Farm & Ranch

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Multi-state research project expects marketable results by 2017 | 4

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Benewah Adams

Save water, drink better (wine)

Bonner

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Grant

| Wednesday, December 31, 2014 | 3

On the cover: Wheat grows in a field on Darby Road in June 2013 northeast of Moscow. | Photo by Geoff Crimmins

Idaho

Ranchers put weight behind GMO-based feed

Decision by association reported to be science based | 6

Union

Baker

Benefits from specialty crop grants

WSU received millions of federal dollars this year to help specialty crop growers | 11 Northwest Farm and Ranch is published quarterly by the Lewiston Tribune and Moscow-Pullman Daily News and printed at the Tribune Publishing Co. Inc.’s printing facility at 505 Capital St. in Lewiston.

To advertise in Northwest Farm and Ranch, contact the Moscow-Pullman Daily News advertising department at 208.882.5561 or Advertising Manager Craig Staszkow at cstaszkow@dnews.com, or the Lewiston Tribune advertising department at 208.848.2216 or Advertising Director Kim Burner at kburner@lmtribune.com.

Editorial suggestions and ideas can be sent to Lee Rozen at lrozen@dnews.com or Doug Bauer at dbauer@lmtribune.com.

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u for feeding the world!

We want to express our appreciation to the regional agricultural community, the hard working people who fill our nation’s pantries.

Your hard work and concern for the environment keeps our land fertile, productive and safe. It is through your hard work that has enabled our proud nation not just to feed its own, but to send food abroad and ease hunger in other parts of the world.

Thank you for the vital fruit of your labor!

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Farm & Ranch

Save water, drink better (wine) Multi-state research project expects marketable results by 2017

By Shanon Quinn Daily News staff writer

Washington State University researchers have discovered a water-conscious way to simultaneously irrigate crops, decrease water contaminants and improve the quality of fruit through the use of a micro-irrigation system that has been in the works for about five years.

WSU professor of crop and soil sciences and project lead Pete Jacoby, who joined the team in January 2013, said the program puts a new spin on old drip line irrigation.

“The project differs from previous usage of buried drip

lines that were plagued by a host of problems, including clogging of the drip emitters that were in contact with the soil and destruction of the lines by gophers and similar vermin,” Jacoby said. “Our design involves the placement of a hard tube vertically into the ground with an emitter placed on top of the tube and attached to a dripline placed about 18 inches above the soil surface and in line with the vine trunks in vineyard rows.

The emitter is never in contact with the soil and the tube is resistant to damage by gophers and most field equipment used to maintain the ground surface beneath the vines.”

But design isn’t the only thing new about this system, Jacoby said.

“We use electronic capacitance meters to monitor soil water movement and soil moisture availability in the soil profile near the vine. This

data help determine when to apply irrigation applications,” he said.

Jacoby said the research trials, which are taking place on vineyards near Prosser, Wash., use battery-powered controllers that limit irrigation amounts.

“In two of our project sites, we are comparing continuous application with pulsed applications that involve shortduration applications interrupted by an hour or more to allow the water to spread laterally to a larger volume of soil and to reduce loss of water and nutrients through a saturated soil profile,” Jacoby said.

On top of saving water and improving water quality, Jacoby said the system improves crop yield and quality by conditioning the vine to develop deeper roots and collect only the lesser amount of water provided by the irrigation system rather than sur-

prise rainfall.

“Grapevines are often subjected to reduced or ‘deficit’ irrigation during the period following fruit set through ripening. This technique of using water to produce higher quality grapes involves a physiological process through which sublethal stress causes the vine to allocate carbon to the fruit to produce higher than normal levels of sugars and deep, rich fruit color, particularly in red wines. These qualities can produce high-quality, premium wines in the hands of knowledgeable and skilled winemakers,” he said.

Although the system isn’t yet ready for commercialization, Jacoby said he expects the current projects to yield publishable results within the next two years.

Shanon Quinn can be reached at (208) 883-4636, or by email to squinn@ dnews.com.

DuPont, Monsanto settle patent lawsuits Associated Press

ST. LOUIS — Two of the biggest U.S. agribusiness companies say they have agreed to settle their patent-infringement lawsuits against each other that had been pending in a St. Louis federal court.

Terms of the deal announced Tuesday by DuPont Co. and Monsanto Co. were not announced.

St. Louis-based Monsanto had claimed DuPont infringed upon certain Monsanto patents for determining a seed’s genetics. Based in Wilmington, Del., DuPont had alleged Monsanto infringed upon certain DuPont seedprocessing patents.

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Farm & Ranch

Ranchers continue to feel pasture land stress Fire and drought have reduced usable acreage

By Kathy Hedberg Lewiston Tribune staff writer

High beef prices, drought and recovery from wildfires are expected to continue to have an impact on the availability of pasture for cattle producers this coming year.

Wyatt Prescott, executive director of the Idaho Cattle Association, said improving prices in the beef market have encouraged more people to add to their herds or some farmers to begin raising cattle.

That makes competition

for pasture tight. Add to that the drought in some areas of the country, as well as wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and the situation becomes even more intense.

“A lot of producers don’t have winter pastures so they’ll feed hay to cows to winter them or they will lease ag crop land” through the winter, Prescott said.

The cost of leasing private pasture land over the past decade has doubled in some areas, while grazing permits on public lands have been curtailed to aid in the recovery from wildfires.

Prescott said he expects to see some higher value crop grounds being turned over for pasture as the competition

gets higher and commodity prices deflate.

“We’re in a growing phase in the beef industry and people are trying to expand and grow, so they go out and compete for those pastures,” Prescott said.

The competition was increased last year when ranchers from the Midwest, which suffered devastating drought, relocated some of their herds to the Northwest.

As those lands have recovered, some of the Midwestern herds are returning home, easing up some of the pressure on regional pasture land.

Like most agricultural products, however, the beef market is volatile and Prescott said things could turn around and change the dynamics of

| Wednesday, December 31, 2014 | 5

File photo

Improving prices in the beef market have encouraged more farmers to add to their herds, or to even begin raising cattle, said executive director of the Idaho Cattle Association, Wyatt Prescott. pasture availability.

“We have seen a point in the cattle market where we have seen a price correction on the futures that might be leading to the next downward

cycle,” Prescott said. “We don’t know for sure.”

Kathy Hedberg may be contacted at kathyhedberg@gmail.com or (208) 983-2326.

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Farm & Ranch

Idaho ranchers put weight behind GMO-based feed Decision by cattle association reported to be science based

By Chelsea Embree Lewiston Tribune staff writer

The Idaho Cattle Association has passed a resolution announcing its support of genetically modified feed, despite concerns about possible effects on cattle and other livestock. “The science says there is no problem with GMO-based feeds,� said John Hall, a member of the association’s science and technology committee.

Supporting genetically modified feed — largely made of corn, soybeans or alfalfa — means supporting growers who want to grow genetically modified crops and beef producers who want to utilize them. “That has an impact because beef producers can make their own personal decisions based

on economics, philosophy, marketing avenues,� Hall said.

Hall, a professor and superintendent of the University of Idaho’s Nancy M. Cummings Center for beef research and education, said the resolution takes a stance against legislation that could work against the use of genetically modified crops. “That larger implication affects basically all of agriculture in Idaho. Obviously, agriculture is a very, very important part of the economy in Idaho,� Hall said.

The Idaho Cattle Association’s science and technology committee presented the resolution at the association’s annual meeting this November, where it was passed with overwhelming support. “One of the reasons it was overwhelmingly accepted is because it’s a logical and science-based decision,� Hall said.

Hall noted a September study conducted at the University of California-Davis that argued there is no difference between

“

... Beef producers can make their own personal decisions based on economics, philosophy, marketing avenues.�

John Hall Idaho Cattle Association member livestock fed genetically modified crops and livestock fed nonGMO products. The study looks at livestock health and productivity from 1983 to 2011, noting that genetically engineered feeds were introduced in 1996. “These field data sets, representing over 100 billion animals following the introduction of (genetically engineered) crops, did not reveal unfavorable or perturbed trends in live-

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Farm & Ranch

Northwest winegrowers spared the need to graft Disease has led most of the world to use the process

out half of the European crop when it was accidentally introduced from North American parent varieties, Moyer said.

And while there aren’t yet many reasons to graft, there is good news for growers who may be forced to do it in the future, said WSU enologist Jim Harbertson. A three-year study to determine how grafting affects the quality of wine found little to no difference between natural and grafted rootstock.

“From what we could tell, it wasn’t as significant as we anticipated,” Harbertson said, possibly to the chagrin of those who market Inland Northwest wines. “I think some people have tried to say that we don’t use rootstocks, ergo we are superior. I don’t know if that’s really accurate.”

Moyer went back into wine history to explain why grafting became so widespread. In the mid- to late-1800s, sharing plants was a common pastime

By Joel Mills Lewiston Tribune staff writer

So far, Inland Northwest winegrowers have been spared from the necessity of grafting.

“Most of the world is planted on grafted vines,” said Michelle Moyer, a viticulture extension specialist at Washington State University’s Prosser research center. “Except for parts of Australia and parts of the Pacific Northwest because we don’t have established populations of phylloxera in our soils.”

Phylloxera is a nasty little root louse that can kill grape vines by causing “galls,” or knots that prevent the uptake of water in the plant. It was responsible for an epidemic in the late 1800s that wiped

in Victorian society. English botany enthusiasts were especially enamored of North American grape varieties.

“They were different, they were interesting, and they tasted different than what they were using over in Europe,” she said.

But as can happen when plants are transferred between regions without caution, trouble erupted. In the queen’s own glass house, something ugly was growing on the vitis vinifera vines: powdery mildew.

“Then it spread out into the vines in the field, and then it just kind of rampaged across Europe,” Moyer said.

Growers quickly learned to control the mildew with sulphur, but they wanted a better long-term solution. They tried breeding the mildew-resistant North American plants with French varieties. In the process, they unwittingly introduced the continent to phylloxera.

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“They were bringing in plants to cure one disease, and it brought in another pest,” she said.

Any number of half-baked ideas were employed to fight the bugs, like dumping hot oil into the soil. But the only thing that worked was grafting traditional varieties onto insect-resistant American rootstock. That approach also took care of consumers’ distaste for French-American hybrid wines because it preserved the traditional flavors they were used to.

“Now all of Europe is planted on grafted plants,” Moyer said.

Luckily, local growers shouldn’t have to worry about such complicated problems because the area is so inhospitable to pests like phylloxera.

“It just can’t spread,” she said. “It tries and it doesn’t go anywhere. It’s hot, it’s dry, and phylloxera doesn’t like hot, dry, sandy soil. We’ve lucked out in

the inland desert because of that.”

Growers sometimes graft for reasons other than defeating disease and insect problems, Moyer added. It can help combat acid balance problems in the soil, control canopy growth or help fruit ripen earlier. But those benefits are largely outweighed by the potential for graft union failures in the colder climates that predominate in Idaho, eastern Washington and eastern Oregon.

Harbertson said the region also benefits from the previously untouched soil where many vineyards are planted.

Some California vineyards, for example, inherited nematode infestations when they were established on land that once grew citrus trees that harbor the destructive roundworm.

The bottom line, according to WSU researchers, is that wine grape growers shouldn’t have to graft in the near future.

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Northwest grape growers have been spared from grafting, as soils are, so far, free from established populations of phylloxers.

“It’s always easier to do nothing,” Harbertson said. “If you’ve got a problem, we’ve got a solution for you. But until you have that problem, there’s no point in looking for one. We want to be

cautious, but still not take unnecessary risks.”

Joel Mills may be contacted at jmills@lmtribune. com or (208) 848-2266.

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10 | Wednesday, December 31, 2014 |

Farm & Ranch

Weighing the value of neonicotinoids

By Samantha Malott Daily News staff writer

Recently released data show the use of a nicotine-related insecticide can provide various benefits to the agriculture world including increased yields, lower costs and improved pest management.

Thirteen agriculture and economics experts participated in the study for AgInfomatics, available through Growing Matters, covering the effects of neonicotinoids on nine different crops grown across the nation, including wheat and potatoes.

Pete Nowak, Ph.D. researcher for AgInfomatics and head of the research team, said the goal was to assess the value of the pest control method and identify

the costs of disuse.

Neonicotinoids are fast-growing insecticides that have a similar chemical make-up to nicotine and is used to essentially paralyze the bug attacking the crop.

Out of the 206 million commodity crop acres in the United States, 133 million of those are being treated with neonicotinoids, he said.

Nowak said the unattended risks of banning the insecticide use, as some groups wish to do, are the most important facts being ignored in this debate.

“There are a lot of groups that are jumping on this, but they really aren’t thinking through what might occur if they take away this valuable tool in agriculture,” he said. “That’s the big picture.”

One worry has to do with bees and if the insect will be exposed to a low dosage of the insecticide if it comes in contact with a treated seed’s flowers and nectar.

“The science on the risks is various chemicals used, as the still really getting formulated,” makers have formulated it in he said. different ways so it focuses on The insecticide is different different species of insects, he than the long-used formulas said. that are sprayed Because over the plants. growers don’t Neonicotinoids have to use mulare a coating tiple different applied to the pest managecrop. An insect ment tools, it has to bite into can result in sigthe plant to be nificant savings affected by the to the growers, neonicotinoid, he he said. said.

Taking away It becomes the use of neonicPete Nowak internal and sysotinoids, Nowak AgInfomatics researcher tematic to the said, is going to plant, Nowak produce unansaid. ticipated and costly results.

“It basically paralyzes the “If you take away neonicotiinsect so it can no longer oper- noids and growers still have to ate, and they die,” Nowak said. manage these pests, they are “You can have a bee land on going to go back to the only the leaf of the plant, and it’s not available chemistry out there, going to be affected by that.” and that is older chemistry,” This method can be less he said. dangerous to insects than other Along with the cost of hav-

“

The science on the risks is still really getting formulated.”

ing to retrain workers to apply the older methods, the older chemical make-ups can be more harmful toward insects.

If people worry about the effect on pollinator health with the neonicotinoids, the impact on pollinators is going to be a hundred times worse than what is happening right now if growers have to go back to the older chemistry, he said.

Pests are able to build up a resistance to older insecticides and can kill off the beneficial bugs as well as the ones actually attacking the plant, he said.

“It’s a recipe for disaster,” Nowak said. “You quickly realize the value of something that is no longer there. That’s where we really began to get some insights into how important they are in North American agriculture.”

Samantha Malott can be reached at (208) 883-4639, or by email to smalott@dnews.com.

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Washington benefits from specialty crop grants WSU received millions of federal dollars this year to help specialty crop growers

By Anthony Kuipers Daily News staff writer

With a variety of grants and federal dollars already available for wheat crops, the U.S. Department of Agriculture wanted to strengthen another important component of the agricultural industry: specialty crops.

Washington State University, in particular, is enjoying the fruits of this effort.

The university received more than $14 million in federal grants to help Washington state growers get the most out of their crops of apples, cherries, peaches and other flowering plants.

James Moyer, associate dean of the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences at

WSU, said the university’s researchers received well over 20 percent of the total funds awarded through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative, a program that provides grants to support research and extension projects that address the needs of the specialty crop industry.

“It’s important to us, it’s important to the state and it strengthens our relationship with the growers,” he said.

It also brings together faculty members in the field from all over the U.S. to tackle research that “otherwise may not occur” he said.

Faculty member Dorrie Main received $2.7 million over five years through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative to improve a genome database for roseceae crops.

Main said this database

takes in all the publicly avail- ers in their breeding program. able information on breeding The researchers have been roseceae and puts it all on one updating the database for 12 website for growers to access. years, she said.

Growers D o u g and researchWalsh, facers working ulty member with specialin the departty crops can ment of submit any entomology, breeding data received $3.2 they have million to with informadevelop strattion on the egies for pest genome, traits and disease and markers management of their crops. in hops, while They can other WSU also store faculty are private data researching James Moyer without fear how to use Associate dean of the College of b i o d e g r a d of others gainAgricultural, Human and Natural ing access to able plastic it. for Resource Sciences at Washington mulch Main said sustainable State University they can use specialty crop the database production. to identify which traits are Specialty crops, especialassociated with particular ly apples, are a billion dolgenes, and use those mark- lar industry in the state, yet

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(The initiative) is important to us, it’s important to the state and it strengthens our relationship with the growers.”

only recently has the federal government opened up many grant opportunities for researchers in the specialty crop field.

Moyer said the focus of federal dollars largely fell on wheat and cereal crops in the past, but with these new grant programs, the government recognizes the economic importance of specialty crops, as well as their importance to the health of Americans.

In February, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., announced the Specialty Crop Research Initiative will be funded at $80 million a year and the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program will be funded at $72.5 million from 2014 to 2017, a more than 50 percent increase for both programs from levels in the 2008 farm bill.

Anthony Kuipers can be reached at (208) 883-4630, or by email to akuipers@dnews.com.

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Farm & Ranch

WSU heightens focus on wine education Foundation grant assists with opening of Wine Science Center in Tri-Cities area

By Mary Stone Lewiston Tribune staff writer

A gift with ties to the industry’s roots is boosting the wine program at Washington State University’s Tri-Cities campus as construction wraps up on its Wine Science Center.

Scheduled to be completed later this month and operating

by February, the center recently received $500,000 from the Albert Victor Ravenholt Foundation, which honors a pioneer in Washington wine production.

Ravenholt was a

founder of Sagemoor Vineyards, one of the first in the Tri-Cities area, said WSU viticulture and enology program director Thomas Henick-Kling.

“That was a very important step to get the industry going,” Henick-Kling said.

From the Ravenholt donation, $400,000 will go toward the Wine Science Center building, which includes labs and classrooms as well as meeting space, Henick-Kling said.

The remaining $100,000 will be used to create an endowment for a lecture series “where

we can bring in guest speakers every year and honor Mr. Ravenholt

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and what he and his came from a portion of colleagues the state’s have achieved tax on wine, here,” he Henicksaid.

Kling said.

Sagemoor The rest, general manhe said, ager Kent comes from Waliser, p r i v a t e who serves donations. as chairThe Triman of the Cities locaWashington tion was State Wine selected for Commission the center, board, was Henickinstrumental Kling said, in securing because the Ravenholt the campus g r a n t , there had Henick-Kling the infrasaid. structure The $23 to support million centhe school’s ter has been undergradufunded in ate and part with $5 graduate million from programs. a state of There are Washington about 30 faceconomic ulty memdevelopment bers in the fund and a $2 Thomas Henick-Kling p r o g r a m s , WSU viticulture and million fedhe said, 14 eral economic of them full enology program developtime, with director ment grant. about 90 stuAnother $7.3 million dents between Pullman

“

We’ve always worked very closely with the wine industry.

We designed that into the building — collaboration with the industry — because we want them to be part of the research and teaching all the time.”

and the Tri-Cities, including 30 graduate students.

Program participants study such subjects as grapevine physiology, genetics, wine chemistry, wine microbiology and business management. Washington State University also runs the extension program for grape growers and wine makers across the state, Henick-Kling said.

The center will help the university continue its tradition of partnering with people in the wine business, he said.

“We’ve always worked very closely with the wine industry,” he said. “We designed that into the building — collaboration with industry — because we want them to be part of the research and teaching all the time.”

Mary Stone may be contacted at mstone@lmtribune.com or at (208) 848-2244. Follow her on Twitter @MarysSchoolNews.

Farm & Ranch

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Farm & Ranch

Oregon ag agency expands water quality monitoring Associated Press

SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Agriculture plans to expand the monitoring of Oregon farm land for compliance with federal water quality law.

Some officials hope that will lead more farmers to seek help with programs such as tree planting to shade and cool streams, making them better able to support threatened fish species, the agricultural publication Capital Press reported.

For decades, the agency’s strategy for compliance with

the federal Clean Water Act on farmland was largely complaint-driven, said John Byers, manager of its agricultural water quality program.

But some problems, such as manure piles near waterways or streams denuded of vegetation, may never be reported, he said.

“Neighbors don’t always want to turn in neighbors,” Byers said.

About two years ago, the department decided to “selfinitiate” compliance with water quality rules, using publicly available information like aerial photographs and topographical maps to

identify potential problem areas and then notifying the landowners.

Since the agency doesn’t have the resources to conduct in-depth monitoring of the whole state, the approach was tested in Wasco and Clackamas counties.

In mid-2015, the department intends to roll out the program in six to 12 new “strategic implementation areas” once Byers determines where improvements are most needed.

An example of a project that approach might help is aimed at restoring riparian habitat along several creeks

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in Multnomah County.

Despite numerous entreaties from the local soil and water conservation district, most landowners have refused free streamside tree planting that would reduce creek temperatures, and only about 25 to 30 percent of stream miles targeted by the district are enrolled in the restoration program.

“Some people are just not interested in having someone else working on their property,” said Julie DiLeone, rural lands program supervisor for the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.

Once the Agriculture

Department tells landowners they can’t pollute, the solution is up to them. For technical assistance, they can seek help from a conservation district.

“If more people come in the door, at least in our district, that’s great because we have the capacity to help more people,” said Laura Masterson, an organic farmer and board member of the East Multnomah district.

She noted the districts aren’t regulators, so people shouldn’t be afraid to come to districts for help, she said.

“That firewall is critical,” she said.

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Farm & Ranch

Tuttle named Washington Cattlewoman of the Year At 83, Asotin woman continues to be moving force for the industry

By Kerri Sandaine Lewiston Tribune staff writer

Barry Kough/Tribune

At 83 years, Charlotte Tuttle is a whirling dervish of activity, and is also the Washington State Cattlewoman of the Year.

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ASOTIN — Charlotte Tuttle, an 83-year-old gogetter, spent the morning vacuuming for a 100year-old woman before being interviewed about her latest award.

At an age when most people slow down, Tuttle is known as a moving force. She is Washington state’s Cattlewoman of the Year. She also works as a part-time caregiver with four clients, hence the vacuuming.

Tuttle, who is rarely at a loss for words, was speechless when she was named Cattlewoman of the Year at a recent state convention in Spokane.

She thought she was assisting with a presentation when organizers summoned her to the podium.

“I was absolutely surprised,” Tuttle said. “It was really nice and I am honored.”

In an introduction prepared by Asotin County members, Tuttle was described as “always on the go, not only knowing what needs to be done, but seeing that it is done.

She keeps her county organizations informed on what is going on with the beef industry at the county, state and national level.”

Tuttle joined what was then called the Asotin County Cowbelles in 1985 and is serving her third stint as president.

“I will probably be president until I die,” she said with a smile. “Every October, I put nominating committee on the agenda, and they all just sit there and laugh.”

Tuttle said she joined

the organization because Fair parade. Tuttle was the members were friend- recently informed she’s ly and outgoing and she been selected as the 2015 instantly liked them. She grand marshal of the supports the cattle indus- April events. try because it’s a “great Of all her projects lifestyle and wonderful and activities, the catAmerican tradition.” tle organization is one Most of her work on of her favorites and she behalf of the Cattlewomen remains committed to is aimed at legislative the industry. The cattle issues rather than spend- market is doing well ing time in the saddle right now, but it goes in herding cows. cycles and she predicts it “I haven’t been on a will be struggling again horse in 60 years,” she someday. said. “My last horse was “It’s important to keep a doggone jumper.” up with the governmenShe and her late hus- tal issues that affect the band, Bob, raised three industry,” Tuttle said. daughters.

T h e They moved A s o t i n to Asotin C o u n t y about 30 Cattlewomen years ago, have about and Tuttle 20 memf o u n d bers on the her niche books. The with the group works Cowbelles. on several She has fundraisers served on the throughout scholarship the year, committee, including a conducted plant sale membership on Mother’s drives and Day weekassisted with end and a beef counts quilt raffle on the state during fair level. time. Tuttle Charlotte Tuttle In addihas helped tion, Tuttle is Washington Cattlewoman organize the active in 4-H distribution of the Year and FFA and of roast beef rarely misses an Asotin at Second Harvest food County Fair Board meet- drives and is a regular ing. She attends Asotin consumer of the product City Council sessions she promotes. and is a regular at Asotin When asked if she has County Commission and a favorite breed, Tuttle health district meetings. was quick to answer.

She is well known in “Herefords. They’re the community as the more mellow and the “hat lady.” She has an meat is delicious. You extensive collection and can’t beat a Hereford.” a hat on her head almost every day of the year.

Kerri Sandaine may be In the spring, she will contacted at kerris@lmtribune. no doubt don a festive com or (208) 848-2264. Follow one for the Asotin County her on Twitter @newsfromkerri.

“

I will probably be president until I die. Every October, I put nominating committee on the agenda, and they all just sit there and laugh.”

Farm & Ranch

| Wednesday, December 31, 2014 | 17

Thai farm workers may not get any of $8.7M award Safeway

By Jennifer Sinco Kelleher Associated Press

HONOLULU — A federal judge has ruled that a California-based labor contractor must pay $8.7 million in damages to Thai workers who were exploited while working at Hawaii farms, but it’s not clear whether any of them will get the money.

Mordechai Orian, former president of Global Horizons, said the Los Angeles company is no longer in business and has no way to pay. “We will fight this ridiculous decision,� he said, calling the amount “insane.�

Orian continued to deny workers were mistreated. “We paid those guys to the last penny they worked for,� he said. “We tried to keep legal farming in the United States alive, and this is the thanks we get.�

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a federal

lawsuit in 2011 against Global Horizons and six Hawaii farms. It alleged workers were subjected to discrimination, uninhabitable housing, insufficient food, inadequate wages and deportation threats. Five farms settled for a total of $3.6 million.

U.S. District Judge Leslie Kobayashi issued the ruling against Global Horizons on Dec. 19.

Anna Park, EEOC trial attorney in Los Angeles, said the agency is pleased but the next challenge will be getting money from Global Horizons.

Kobayashi ruled previously that the company is liable for the discrimination and abuse of the workers.

The contractor sought impoverished Thai nationals, whom they stereotyped to be docile and compliant, the EEOC said, and charged them fees ranging from $9,500 to $26,000. The workers were given overcrowded housing often infested with bed bugs,

and some workers resorted to surprised if there really was making primitive slingshots no money, though. I think it’s so they could catch chickens very carefully hidden.� to eat, the agency said.

The company has no assets Kobayashi’s ruling awards and couldn’t afford to con$150,000 each for 82 claim- tinue litigation, so it agreed ants, coming from the $3.6 to allow Kobayashi to issue a million in setdefault judgtlements and ment without the $8.7 milgoing to trial, lion Global said Javier Horizons is Lopez Perez, liable for. an attorney She found the representlast remaining Global ing farm that Horizons.

Mordechai Orian didn’t settle The com— Maui Former president of Global Horizons pany plans Pineapple Co. to appeal, he — is jointly said. liable for $8.1 million of the The money would be life$8.7 million. The company changing for the workers, couldn’t be recently reached many of whom continue to for comment. work in agriculture, Hanusz “The million dollar ques- said. tion is whether they’ll ever “While I truly hope that the see any of it,� Clare Hanusz, victims receive all the money an attorney who represents they’re entitled to, I think a large group of the workers they’ll also be happy the judgwith their immigration mat- ment validates their claims,� ters, said of the award. “I’d be she said.

“

We will fight this ridiculous decision.�

pulls caramel apples amid listeria scare Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Safeway has pulled prepackaged caramel apples from its shelves, the grocery chain said recently after the family of a person who died from a listeria infection linked to the fruit sued the company.

Shirlee Jean Frey, who died Dec. 2, became ill after buying several caramel apples from a Safeway supermarket in Felton in October, according to the suit filed in Santa Cruz County Superior Court.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the 81-year-old was sickened with the same strains of listeria found in apples that infected 28 other people in nine states.

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